One day in Granada

Day by day

1. Day 1: Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces and Generalife

   Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces, Generalife, Palace of Charles V and Carmen de los Mártires, then Flamenco in a Sacromonte cave in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces

      Enter the Nasrid Palaces at your exact time slot; see the Alcazaba before and the Generalife after, and allow at least three hours in total. Allow 3–4 hours.

   2. Late morning

      Generalife

      Visit after the Nasrid Palaces to end in the gardens; late afternoon light is softest. Allow 1–1.5 hours.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Free tapas

      Bars on Calle Navas, around Plaza Nueva, in Realejo and along Pedro Antonio de Alarcón.

   4. Afternoon

      Palace of Charles V

      Stand in the centre of the circular courtyard and speak; the acoustics are remarkable. Allow 1 hour.

   5. Late afternoon

      Carmen de los Mártires

      Visit after the Alhambra on the way down to Realejo for tapas. Allow 1 hour.

   6. Evening

      Flamenco in a Sacromonte cave

      Choose a show in a genuine cave venue for the intimacy, and book a seat at the front.

Before you go

• Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces: Tickets with a fixed Nasrid Palaces time slot sell out weeks ahead in spring and autumn; buy only from the official Alhambra ticket website and bring the ID named on the ticket.
• Generalife: Included in the main Alhambra ticket; garden-only tickets also exist but sell out in peak season.
• Flamenco in a Sacromonte cave: Book a day or two ahead in high season; many venues include transport from the centre.

If it rains

• Swap in Granada Cathedral (Centro): Visit with an audio guide and then walk next door to the Royal Chapel, which has a separate ticket.
• Swap in Royal Chapel of Granada (Centro): Look down into the crypt to see the simple lead coffins beneath the elaborate tombs.
• Swap in Monastery of San Jerónimo (Centro): Combine it with the nearby university district and a tapas lunch around Plaza de la Trinidad.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 7–9 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.6 hours in December to 14.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. Walking is the best way to explore the centre, the Albaicín and Realejo; allow extra time for steep, cobbled lanes and stairs.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Granada
• 3 days in Granada

Questions travellers ask